BlackBox Nigeria

Add BBN on 2BAFB965

Add BBN on 2BAFB965‎

Switzerland is set to return to Nigeria some $380 million (360 million euros) linked to ex-dictator Sani Abacha, Geneva's public prosecutor said Tuesday, adding that it was closing a 16-year case on the funds.

The decision to return the funds follows a July 2014 deal between Nigeria and the Abacha family. Under the agreement, the funds would be confiscated and returned to Nigeria, while Abuja would drop its case against the deceased dictator's son Abba Abacha.

The $380 million had been placed in several accounts abroad that were controlled by the Abacha family, which is considered a criminal organisation, the Geneva prosecutors' office said in a statement.
The money was seized in 2006 in Luxembourg, under orders from the Swiss authorities.

The $380 million will be returned under the World Bank's supervision, said the prosecutor's office.
The authorities have also decided to drop their case against Abba Abacha, which began in 1999.

@blackboxupdate

Report emanating from the International Gospel Church in Warri has it that there was a fire incident that broke out at the church that belongs to the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

Eyewitnesses expressed that the tragic incident happened after the second service  and that the fire reportedly gutted the guest house, radio/TV studio, clinic and library. Some members of the church who were around during the service raised alarm about the fire ourbreak when they noticed the smoke billowing over the rooftop of the church.

The fire reportedly lasted from about 12:30 – 1pm before fire service men from the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, arrived the scene of the incident and quelled it by about 2:30pm.

Daily Independent reports that the fire destroyed properties estimated to have run into millions of naira. It was however gathered that Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and his wife Helen were still in the office when the fire broke out.

@blackboxupdate

Add BBN on 2BAFB965‎

This is really serious as reports have revealed that the above ladies were caught in the act while stealing recently. The three women hit a clothing store on Allen Avenue and stole clothes.
See that woman stuffing clothes beneath her dress? Don't know how she did it, but she managed to hide three clothes under there.

...unfortunately we cannot post the video now, would do so ASAP!

@blackboxupdate

Add BBN on 2BAFB965‎

Talented musician and instrumentalist, Seun Kuti who happens to be the son of the late Afrobeat king recently got himself an expensive musical instrument, a saxophone.

The Afro-beat singer took to instagram to share the photo of the musical instrument and wrote-
"I rather have a million naira sax than a million naira chain. I am a musician not a model!".
Dehinbo Odunayo Francis

@blackboxupdate

‎•Premises Still Baricaded

Add BBN on 2BAFB965
The Lagos State University Students' Union have expressed it's sadness over the postponement this afternoon of the 20th Convocation ceremony of the citadel. In a statement made available to BlackBox Nigeria by the Public Relations Officer of the Union, Comrade Fatai Adebanjo moments ago, the Union condemns totally the decision of the management to delay once again the convocation ceremony which was earlier stated for tomorrow 18th and Thursday 19th of March, 2015 after it was initially postponed from last month.

The statement read in part..."With a deep sense of sadness, the Students' Union of LASU outrightly CONDEMNS the postponement of the convocation ceremony till further notice.
"It is imperative to recall that the convocation initially ought to hold on the 18th of February, 2015 but was postponed till tomorrow 18th March, 2015. Hence, we see no reason why the convocation should be postponed again."

The Union further urged the management and protesting staff to find an amicable way of resolving their differences saying that "where two elephants fight, the grass suffers it".

"We wish to say that the rancour between the Management, NASU and SSANU is already affecting the students by the Postponement of the Convocation, and also paralysing the academic activities on our campus. Thus, the union will always be on her tentacle to resist any effort to make the students suffer for this rancour.
Noteworthy is the fact that, this rancour has damaged the public image of the University, which is against the core values of the existence of the union. We are the ones who will carry this certificate, and the negative effect will tell on us.
At this cosmopolitan junction, the Students' Union respectfully urge the Management, NASU and SSANU to resolve these issues swiftly because where two elephants fight, the grass suffers it and in this instance, it is even three elephants that are fighting, which will have negative impact on the students on campus.
A PEACEFUL AND A VIOLENT FREE LASU IS WHAT WE DESIRE..."
‎

Uneasy Calm Observed
Calm however has returned to the university community as workers who were seen earlier this morning chanting solidarity songs at the popular 'Abe -igi' have now dispersed saved from a few individuals scampering around.
The security personnels mounted at the main entrances of the main have also dispersed after it was reported that the President of the student union Comrade Sulaimon Onikoro requested they leave. This not withstanding, the premises of the university still remain barricaded from vehicular movement as a big tipper has also been used to barricade the main entrance from the Badagry express way axis. This is asides one of the union buses which was packed with its four tyres removed since yesterday.

Graduating Students Laments
Some affected people have also expressed their dismay over the postponement of the 20th convocation ceremony.
An aggrieved graduand who spoke with BBN revealed that the events of the last 24 hours in LASU is absolutely uncalled for. The student who our correspondent discovered had just returned from the salon where she went to make her hair in preparation for the postponed event lamented that all necessary preparation have been made by her family including purchasing "rice, turkey and other things she would use in celebrating".
Another graduating student from the faculty of Law disclosed that he paid the required N6,500 for the convocation gown just yesterday before the whole fracas began and now it is not sure if the event would hold before they are either mobilised for the compulsory NYSC or for law school which is the next step for him.

Stay connected with BlackBox Nigeria for all the details as they unfold....for news tip and anonymous comments, bare your mind below or mail us at blackboxnigeria360@gmail.com

@blackboxupdate

Add BBN on 2BAFB965
The management of Lagos State University (LASU) have postponed her Convocation ceremony slated for tomorrow 18th of March and Thursday 19th, 2015.
The management stated the ongoing protest by some staff union in the university.
"The decision became imperative in the light of the agitation/protest by ASUU, SSANU & NASU on Monday, 16th March 2015 at the main campus, Ojo," the official bulletin stated.

The management also revealed that a new date would be announced later.

@blackboxupdate

Add BBN on 2BAFB965

Add BBN on 2BAFB965
Not less than three people, cows and goats where this morning burnt to death as a petroleum tanker exploded in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.‎

According to BlackBox Nigeria Correspondent who was at the scene of the event, the Driver, an Okada rider and a yet to be identified commuter all met their untimely death in the inferno that also engulfed the Ikorodu Abbatior.

The ‎tanker belonging to Fort Oil (FO) had a break failure as it was to climb the steep hill on Ebute-Ibeshe  road, opposite the Ikorodu Abbatior, close to Ikorodu General Hospital.‎
As at the time of fiing this ‎report, the Lagos State fire Service men where on ground trying to combat the fire.

@blackboxupdate

Add BBN on 2BAFB965‎

The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, has dismissed speculations he was under pressure to proceed on terminal leave ahead of the forthcoming general elections, stressing he has a duty until April 11.
The speculation that the Peoples Democratic Party-controlled Federal Government intends to remove Mr. Jega before the elections has remained thick, owing to persistent calls for the INEC boss' sack by individuals and groups rooting for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Particularly, the campaign organisation of Mr. Jonathan had accused Mr. Jega and the leadership of the opposition All Progressives Congress of "grand conspiratorial alliance" for "electioneering manipulation".
However, speaking Monday in Abuja at a town hall meeting, Mr. Jega said he was duty-bound to conduct the March 28 and April 11 elections.
"I am not under any pressure to resign," Mr. Jega said. "The issue of terminal leave is voluntary. Why will I resign when I have a constitutional duty? Until, April 11, I have a duty. I think it is a disservice for anybody to resign at a stage there is serious assignment like the one I am doing.
"No sensible person, in my view, will contemplate leaving when there is a duty. I read about the pressure on me to resign or that anybody want to sack me on newspapers like everybody. Nobody has told me to proceed on terminal leave.
"Everybody in INEC is focussed on the efforts to deliver the best elections in the history of the country."
Also, the INEC boss reiterated the readiness of the Commission to deploy electronic card readers for the elections, dismissing opposition to the arrangement as "diversionary" and a ploy to "move us backward."
He said the postponement of the elections provided INEC with the opportunity to further demonstrate use of the card readers.
He said lthe field-testing of the devices revealed 100 per cent success.
Mr. Jega admitted the relative newness of the technology, but said INEC had done quality assurance test which he said "certified the card readers will work".
He added that deployment of card readers for the elections would add value and credibility to Nigeria's electoral process, as it guarantees prevention of electoral fraud.
"If we don't use card readers, we will lose respect and credibility. We will be going back to old ways when alteration of results were possible," he said.
On the distribution of permanent voter cards, he said about 700,000 cards are yet to be delivered. These cards, he said, belong to voters who registered during the continuous voters' registration which ended in December last year.
He however assured all the remaining cards will be delivered and available for collection latest on Saturday, barely 24 hours to deadline for collection of the cards.
Further, he defended the deployment of the military personnel for elections, saying soldiers would not be at the polling units but would only be on standby to assist when there is breakdown of law and order which the police cannot control.
He said soldiers would only be called in for help "on the invitation of the Inspector General of Police".
"The role of each of the security agencies is to add value to the elections, but within the constitutional framework of such agency," he said.

@blackboxupdate

Add BBN on 2BAFB965‎

Nigeria's former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has again advocated dialogue with the insurgent group, Boko Haram, saying the group has legitimate grievances despite its brutal five-year campaign that has killed more than 15,000 people, with hundreds of thousands displaced.
The former president said Nigeria should not rule out talking to the terrorist group which recently pledged allegiance to Islamic State (ISIS) – but he said that should only happen after a sustained military campaign.
Boko Haram's run of violence against innocent people in schools, places of worship, markets and homes, only slowed relatively in the last few weeks in the face of increased military onslaught from Nigeria and neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroun.
The military has retaken 15 of 16 major towns seized by the group, the latest being Bama in Borno State, recaptured on Monday.
In response, Boko Haram has launched more suicide bomb attacks killing scores of civilians.
In an interview with the International Business Times in Dubai, Mr. Obasanjo advised that in dealing with the terror organization, the Nigerian government should not rule out dialogue if the group is willing to talk. He said that should happen only after sustained military operations against the militants.
Mr. Obasanjo, who spoke at the side-lines of the Global Education Forum conference, said with only 19 per cent of the population in Boko Haram's stronghold of North-East Nigeria receiving education, [compared to 79 per cent in the South-West and 77 per cent in the South-East], there was no question that the area should feel marginalised.
"We don't need anyone to tell us that that is a problem; a problem of disparity, a problem of marginalization, a problem because education is fundamental to your employability and to your living conditions. If you are not educated you are handicapped," Mr. Obasanjo said.
Mr. Obasanjo again criticised President Goodluck Jonathan's response to the group, saying the incumbent failed to act quick enough in taking the fight to Boko Haram.
That failure, he said, had given the group "false confidence" to spread to neighbouring Chad and Cameroon.
"The response of the government initially was definitely not enough. When Boko Haram started showing their fangs about four years ago, the reaction should have been firm and unmistakable. We have lost ground," he said.
Mr. Obasanjo said as progress is made with the regional response from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger, the Nigerian government should not rule out engaging with the militants.
"If Boko Haram is ready to talk, we should talk. But by the time they are ready to talk they will need to be pounded a little bit militarily: at that stage they will be ready to talk," Mr. Obasanjo said.
Mr. Obasanjo has made similar calls in the past. In 2011, he made a unilateral attempt to open talks with leaders of the deadly sect.
The effort ended on a bloody note with the murder of Babakura Fugu, the man who received Mr. Obasanjo, and attempted to establish a link between insurgents and the former president.
Mr. Fugu, a brother-in-law of Mohammed Yusuf, Boko Haram's founder, was shot to death shortly after Mr. Obasanjo left his home in Maiduguri, the Borno Stat capital, where he had flown to for a meeting.
The effort was not at the instance of the federal government, officials said at the time.

@blackboxupdate

Add BBN on 2BAFB965‎

Reacting to the One-million-man march of the Oodua Peoples Congress yesterday in Lagos, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said the protest was in line with the N9bn allegedly given to the OPC and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra by Jonathan to disrupt the elections.

Mohammed wondered why the OPC embarked on such a march less than four days after Adams and other OPC leaders met with Jonathan at the State House, Marina.‎
He said, "As we said earlier, Jonathan has bribed ethnic militia groups with N9bn to ensure that the polls were scuttled. The OPC protest was funded by Jonathan and this is part of the grand plot we spoke about."

The Publicity Secretary of the Lagos State chapter of the APC, Joe Igbokwe, said in a statement that it was unfortunate that Jonathan was using "armed thugs" to intimidate Lagosians.

Igbokwe wondered why APC adverts were vandalised since the protest was against Jega.
He said, "No one should be surprised at what is happening today because it reflects the last acts of a dying junta desperate to use every means to remain in power.
"It is obvious that Jonathan and the PDP have given up hence the open and bizarre sponsorship, bribery and inducement to militia groups through generous dollar bribes and contract bazaars, for the purpose of creating enormous crisis and confusion in a bid to scuttle the coming elections.
"We see the present actions of OPC as spurred by the multi-billion naira contract that was recently given to their leaders by a desperate Jonathan as bribery to secure such hatchet jobs they are doing at present.
"Nigerians should note that the action of the hired mercenaries like OPC on the streets of Lagos, where they are visiting destruction on APC campaign materials, is an act of war, as the intended purpose is to provoke monumental crisis that will stop the elections through widespread violence that may lead to war.
"The PDP is desperate to plunge the country into such war that will make both Rwanda and Burundi a child's play considering the mix of the country's population. We see the desperation of the PDP to remain in power when it is obvious that Nigerians don't want it, as a clear and present danger and we alert the world to hold the PDP responsible for any breach of security in Nigeria today."

@blackboxupdate

Add BBN on 2BAFB965‎

Thousands of Odua Peoples Congress and the Coalition of Concerned Nigerians members   loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party took to three major roads in Lagos on Monday demanding the sack of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega.

The protesters, who wore T-shirts with PDP inscriptions and pictures of President Goodluck Jonathan, started gathering in front of the Federal Road Safety Commission near the old Lagos Toll Gate on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as early as 7am.

From there, they proceeded on foot and in about 100 buses to the front of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, causing traffic snarl on the ever busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ikorodu Road and   Funso Williams(Western) Avenue in the city.

The demonstrators, who wielded broken bottles and knives,   also displayed banners and posters calling for Jega's removal.

They destroyed outdoor adverts of All Progressives Congress candidates on the street lights along the highways.

A LASTMA official claimed that some of the demonstrators   stormed their Anthony office,     chased them away   and released many impounded vehicles   to their owners.

The National Coordinator of the OPC, Chief Gani Adams, led the protest which had some popular actors and musicians such as Zack Orji, Alex Usifo, Paul Obazele, Obesere and Saheed Osupa, participating.

The protest forced motorists to seek alternative routes. Many passengers, most of whom were rushing to their respective offices, had to disembark from commercial vehicles and trekked long distances to escape the snarl.

The absence of   Lagos State Traffic Management Agency officials from the highways emboldened the confidence of the protesters, some of whom drove against traffic and others on the restricted BRT lanes.

Policemen from the state command and soldiers attached to OP MESA provided security for the demonstrators who distributed Jonathan's campaign leaflets   to passers-by and   motorists stuck in traffic. The leaflets contained the ''achievements'' of   Jonathan.

Some of the protesters   gave out fliers that bore the ''sins'' of Jega.

One of the fliers read, "Over five million people have yet to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards in the South-West; over 2.5 million persons in the South-South and two million in the South-East while Jega claimed to have recorded 90 per cent distribution in the North, despite the high level of insecurity in the North-East.‎
"There is illegal registration of underage voters in the North, registration of nationals of Chad, Niger Republic and Cameroon. Over one million PVCs have been recovered from them by security agents and yet Jega cannot give an explanation.
"It is obvious that Jega is playing a well scripted Northern agenda as he has positioned northerners to the most sensitive INEC positions .
"The creation of over 30, 000 polling units now termed voting centres in the North against the South-West and awarding the contract of sensitive INEC materials such as PVCs and ballot papers to foreign companies traced to APC leaders.
"Plotting to create chaos and unrest in Nigeria by insisting on holding elections on February 14 when he was aware that 34 per cent of Nigerians in the South-West had yet to obtain their PVCs."

Some of their placards   read, "Jega must go", Jega pushing Northern agenda."

Adams, who addressed the demonstrators at the entrance to the Teslim Balogun Stadium, said that Jega would have embarrassed Nigeria if the elections had   held on February 14.

He said he had while expressing his displeasure with Jega's handling of the election process to Jonathan, informed him (the President) of the "peaceful protest."

Adams said, "We just had a peaceful protest to register our displeasure with Jega on the way he has been hadling the preparations for this important elections. We   also made our position known to Jonathan.

"Jega should proceed on terminal leave and let a credible Nigerian be appointed to conduct the elections."

Usifo, who also spoke, said, "It's all about the concerned citizens of Nigeria. Some citizens believe that Jega has already compromised. On   February 14 when he said he was ready for the elections,   he was not because many registered citizens had yet to collect their PVCs.

"I sincerely believe that his professorship is even questionable. If as a professor he does not know what he is doing, then I don't know who will help us. We   don't want violence."

He hinted that another round of protest might take place if the situation did not improve.

Obazele also accused Jega of pursuing a northern agenda and attempting to disenfranchise voters in the South.

   Orji, in a brief interview with one of our correspondents, dismissed claims that     the protesters were paid by anyone.

He said, "We believe in the president that he is a credible person for this moment. We don't want anybody to come and set us back for decades. We have not been paid to organise this.
"We just believe in Mr. President because we have been following his excellent track record."

@blackboxupdate

Add BBN on 2BAFB965‎

The International Criminal Court, ICC, said it would investigate allegations of incitement against the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. Reports disclosed that the decision to investigate and possibly prosecute the First Lady followed a petition submitted to the ICC by All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organization, APCPCO.
‎
The Director-General of the APCPCO, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State had last week signed the petition against the First Lady, alleging incitement during her recent campaign speeches in some sections of the country. Following the petition, The Cable had sought confirmation from the Office of The Prosecutor, OTP, at the ICC over the issue.
The OTP in its confirmation of the petition claimed to have formally received the petition and would consider it within the ambits of the law. It said: "Under Article 15 of the Rome Statute, the Prosecutor of the ICC may receive information on crimes within the jurisdiction on the Court (also called 'communications')," The Cable quoted the OTP to have said.
Response
It said: "With regards to your enquiry, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court can confirm receipt of the communication referred to since the sender of the communication has made this fact public in the media. "The Office will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, as it does with all such communications."
It was also revealed that the United Kingdom branch of APC to have also confirmed receipt and adoption of the petition. "The ICC, based in The Hague, has sent confirmation to APC-UK, that an investigation will begin against Mrs Jonathan, who repeatedly called for the stoning of opposition APC members as captured in the videos released earlier this month," the party was quoted to have said.
"The criminal case investigation ICC reference number is: OTP-CR-83/15," it added. Mrs. Jonathan has drawn mixed reactions on some of her statements, including statements urging supporters to stone anyone that comes to preach change to them. Also yesterday, Fatou Bensouda, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, had in a statement affirmed that Nigerians, who provoke violence ahead of, during and after the elections could be liable to sanctions from the ICC.
The statement
He said: "Following my statement of February 2, and my Office's subsequent visit to Nigeria from of February 3 to 5, I reiterate my previous message. "At a time when abhorrent levels of violence already plague parts of the country, I recall that the International Criminal Court ('ICC' or the 'Court') has jurisdiction over Rome Statute crimes committed on the territory of Nigeria.
"Any person who incites or engages in acts of violence in the context of the upcoming elections or otherwise— including by ordering, inciting, encouraging or contributing to the commission of crimes that fall within ICC's jurisdiction— is liable to prosecution; "Either by Nigerian courts or by the ICC. No one should doubt my Office's resolve to prosecute individuals responsible for the commission of ICC crimes, whenever necessary.
"Violence is not a solution. The conduct and outcome of elections in Nigeria, free from violence, will not only prevent further instability in the country, but will also send a clear message that electoral competition does not have to result in violence and crimes that shock the conscience of humanity."

@blackboxupdate

Add BBN on 2BAFB965‎

The convoy of Aishat Buhari, wife of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, was on Monday attacked by suspected political thugs in Ilorin, Kwara State .

Aishat and some APC women were returning from a visit to the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Zulu-Gambari, when the attack took place. They were in the city for a two-day voter education summit for women in the state.
Our correspondent learnt that no one was hurt in the incident that left no fewer than 10 vehicles in the convoy damaged.

The state APC chairman, Ishiola Balogun-Fulani, who confirmed the attack to journalists, accused a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain of being behind it.
He advised the police and other security agencies in the state not only to be on the alert but to call PDP members in the state to order.

Balogun-Fulani said, "It would be recalled that the APC had reported to the police and other security agencies about the plan by the PDP to cause violence in the state before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.
"A worrisome incident took place on Monday, March 16, 2015 during the visit of Hajia Aishat Buhari, wife of APC presidential candidate. Her convoy was attacked around a film house along Emir Road, Ilorin. About 10 vehicles were vandalised.‎
"We also have it on good authority that two of the PDP thugs have been apprehended by the Police.

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Salihu Garba, confirmed the attack.
"We are aware of the attack. Investigations have commenced," Garba said.

Mr. Tajudeen Abdulkareem, a media aide to the PDP Kwara State governorship candidate, Simeon Ajibola, said PDP members were not involved in the attack.
He said the attack might have been masterminded by those who worked for APC leader in the state, Dr. Bukola Saraki
He said, "PDP elders and supporters have been in Kwara South since Sunday on campaign.
"Those who harrased Mrs. Buhari cannot be our members. They may be area boys who wanted to extort money. They are the boys used and abandoned by the APC state leader, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

@blackboxupdate